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Synonyms

house of correction

American  

noun

  1. a place for the confinement and reform of persons convicted of minor offenses and not regarded as confirmed criminals.


house of correction British  

noun

  1. (formerly) a place of confinement for persons convicted of minor offences

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of house of correction

First recorded in 1625–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The judge sentenced Washburn to 2½ years in a house of correction, with one year already served.

From Washington Times • Oct. 4, 2015

In Philadelphia, Luther Brown, arrested after he escaped from the house of correction, explained that when he had tried to get medical treatment, the prison physician had said, "Get out!"

From Time Magazine Archive

Otis Dunham was sentenced to two years in a Massachusetts house of correction.

From Time Magazine Archive

Judge James Boyle pronounced sentence: two months in a house of correction, suspended for a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

He would have felt bad if two boys were in the house of correction for something they did not do.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck